NRF RESEARCH FINANCE OFFICER: 2 YEAR FIXED TERM CONTRACT

DUT has approximately 33 000 students, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) is the first choice for higher education in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). It is located in the beautiful cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg (PMB). As a University of Technology, it prioritises the quality of teaching and learning by ensuring its academic staff possess the highest possible qualification that they can get.

The Durban University of Technology is a result of the merger in April 2002 of two prestigious technikons, ML Sultan and Technikon Natal. It was named the Durban Institute of Technology and later became the Durban University of Technology in line with the rest of the universities of technology.

DUT, a member of the International Association of Universities, is a multi-campus university of technology at the forefront of higher education, technological training, research, and innovation. In alignment with DUT’s strategy ENVISION 2030, the University would like to see its people (staff, students etc) become entrepreneurial and innovative.

In 2020, DUT was ranked amongst the Top 500 Universities globally, and 10th for citations globally and 5th Nationally.

DUT has six Faculties, Accounting and Informatics, Applied Sciences, Management Sciences, Engineering and the Built Environment, Health Sciences and Arts & Design.

DUT is: ‘Creative. Distinctive. Impactful’

Applications are invited from interested person(s) for the under mentioned post.

NRF RESEARCH FINANCE OFFICER: 2 YEAR FIXED TERM CONTRACT

The National Research Foundation (NRF) Finance Officer will perform all financial functions related to the NRF portfolio and support the research office and the Manager: External Funding to build and maintain the relationships with external funders / donors from a financial perspective.

The role also plays key role to identify and establish effective methodologies to maximize the sourcing, financial accounting, management, and reporting on research funds and actively participate in policy development and improvement of research financial management systems.

 MINIMUM REQUIREMENT

• M +3 tertiary qualification Bachelor’s degree or Advanced Diploma – NQF 7 (Financial Accounting or a Finance related)

EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of 2 – 5 years’ broad financial experience with oversight of finances, Budgeting, accounting, and reporting activities.

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of relevant legislation and rules pertaining to Finance and Higher Education
• Proven knowledge of data collection methodologies
• Proficiency in data analysis tools, systems, and statistical applications
• Advanced Proficiency in MS Office
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Understanding of donor / funding contracts and guidelines

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Communication skills – verbal and written
• Customer service orientation with ability to direct customers regarding policy
• Implementation
• Ability to compile, interpret and analyse reports
• Business/ Commercial Acumen

SUMMARY OF DUTIES

Implement specific tasks relating to the NRF Fund as directed by the Manager: External funding specifically regarding the following:

• Reconciliation of all NRF Grant payment receipts deposited and consolidate the accounting entries.
• Reconcile all the expenditure types as per Funding Instrument Guideline.
• Ensure all NRF expenditure is in line with the DUT policy and procedures.
• Review and verify expenditures of restricted projects assigned to ensure adherence to budgetary and donor requirements.
• Maintain a complete record of all pertinent documents of each project and coordinate with other Finance Staff and various project leaders to ensure that the financial implementation adheres with all the other aspects of the project agreement/funding agreement.
• Assist the research office with budget preparation and budget roll overs where applicable.
• Prepare requests to open cost centres in line with funding agreements.
• Prepare journals for allocation of funds, and reallocations of expenditure where applicable.
• Ensure all NRF transactions comply with the basic accounting principles and guidelines, IFRS and all other applicable legislative framework
• Collaborate with Project leaders to clarify financial issues, answer queries and give update on the financial and budget status of the project.
• Working together with University Asset section, ensure all NRF purchased assets are properly recorded in the DUT asset register
• Facilitate the annual audit of NRF Grant via independent auditors of DUT by not later than NRF deadline of each year.
• Ensure processes and procedures are in place to and prevent recurrence of audit findings
• Working with NRF Grant administrator ensure that DUT commit and accounts for its required portion of the co-funding (if any) related to the cost of a funded research project, as per the operation of the relevant NRF funding instrument, for every year of funding allocated to such a research project funded by the NRF.
•  Provide/arrange/make available for NRF or the NRF’s Internal and External Auditors or any person authorized by them to have access at all reasonable times to the DUT premises for the purpose of inspecting the books and records (including financial records) relating to projects funded by the NRF and/or the Grant Deposit funded by the NRF
• Prepare payment requisitions and reconciliations on a monthly basis for students to receive the full bursary value as allocated by the NRF.
• Ensure the preparation of the final financial reports on actual expenditure incurred for the financial period by the given deadline each year, in the format provided by the NRF and the external audit there off.
• Ensure timeous submission of claims of all NRF claims as per NRF rules, regulations and Guidelines on the NRF Portal
• Attend training as and when provided by NRF.
• Provide Training to DUT researchers on the Financial policies and procedure of DUT as an institution.
• Keep records and reconciliations of all claims submitted to NRF.
• Upon request from NRF, arrange refund such deposit or portion of the Grant deposit (GD).
• Liaise and arrange with Internal Audit to provide assurance that the GD was indeed used as prescribed in the NRF funding agreement.
• Ensure that interest earned on the GD is used towards the funding of the salary of at least one additional member of staff dedicated to NRF matters, in either the research, scholarship or finance office, and any additional staff as permitted in the grant funding agreement.
• Provide financial and administrative support services to the researchers to ensure the effective operation of the NRF funded research projects within the Institution.
• Ensure capital preservation of the GD, and allocation of interest to the account.
• Ensure through the DUT, treasury function, that the GD funds are invested with a reputable banking institution duly registered in terms of South African law.
• Ensure monthly recons on grant deposit and interest allocations are performed monthly.
• Ensure that funds in the GD are only used for bridging finance of research projects that relate to NRF funding at the Institution, and that monthly recons are performed to monitor the account.
• Undertakes special projects and prepares reports accordingly as and when requested.
• Any other duties as delegated by the Manager: External funding

Contact Person :        Pirya Naidoo

Contact Email  :        [email protected]

Status of Position :        2-year Fixed Term Contract, with no benefits (Renewable based on performance and availability of funding)

Salary : (R252 000 pa – R378 000pa) dependent on experience.

Applications should include:

• A fully completed prescribed application form which can be obtained from dut.ac.za (under the QUICK LINKS tab – @careers)
• A detailed curriculum vita (explicitly stating experience or knowledge in the above mentioned fields)
• Covering
• Certified copies of all academic records and certificates
• Current contact information of referees
• No manual applications will be accepted and incomplete applications will be
• Please email application to [email protected] and quote the post reference and post description in the subject line.